MLB.com Twins beat reporter Rhett Bollinger keeps you up to date on all Twins news

Mauer set to catch in Sunday’s first workout

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Spring Training officially started for the Twins today, with 41 pitchers and catchers reporting to the Lee County Sports Complex.

Several pitchers participated in light workouts such as Glen Perkins, Scott Baker, Brian Duensing, Nick Blackburn, Carl Pavano, Matt Capps and Jason Marquis, but the Twins don’t hold their first official workout until tomorrow morning.

The first workout begins at 8:30 a.m. ET, with catchers going over signs with manager Ron Gardenhire. Later in the morning, pitchers are scheduled to work out and throw bullpen sessions with the eight catchers invited to camp — Joe Mauer, Ryan Doumit, Drew Butera, Chris Herrmann, Danny Lehmann, Dan Rohlfing, J.R. Towles and Rene Rivera

Mauer is expected to be in full gear, which is a change from last year, when he didn’t start catching until early March because he had offseason surgery on his left knee.

“I’ve been catching a little bit,” Mauer said. “It’ll be good to get the gear back on, running around with the guys. I caught Baker a little bit the other day. I try to limit as much bending down as I can, but I’m feeling good and I’m ready to go.”

Other notes from today:
– Capps and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed a new addition to the family on Feb. 8, as she gave birth to a baby boy named Maxwell Martin Capps. Maxwell weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

– Baker said his right elbow is a “non-issue” and is fully healthy headed into camp. He said coming back to pitch in relief at the end the season helped him get into a normal offseason routine.

– I still haven’t seen Francisco Liriano at Hammond Stadium, but I’m told he’ll be here for tomorrow’s official workout.

– Look for a full notebook later today. For now, here’s the full story on the pitchers and catchers officially reporting.

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